I want to do a card a month on video to help create a bunch to send to our men and women who are serving our country overseas.  I have a local group called “Project Support our Troops” that I have volunteered with for many years.  They send 60-70 boxes of “goodies” to our troops overseas every month and several hundred for Christmas.  If you would like to participate, you can mail any cards for them (without glitter or foil for their protection) to
Project Support our Troops
c/o Laurie’s Embroidery
283 North Street Plaza
Meadville, PA 16335

You can send cards that you make for the troops to thank them, which is what I am doing on the videos, or you can send cards that you make for them to send home to their friends and families.  Both are truly appreciated by them.

I used white 110 pound Neenah Solar White paper for this card.  It is one-half of a sheet of paper cut on the long side, so it is 5 1/2″ long and 8 1/2″ tall, scored at 4 1/4″ to make it an A2 size card.

I used Real Red ink from Stampin’ Up as well as Night of Navy ink also from Stampin’ Up.    The stamps that are patriotic are from Stamps Defined and the set is called Celebrate America.  I also used some small star stamps from Rubber Stamp Tapestry and really recommend their stamps.  They are so easy for me to use and I love the owner, Rebecca, who is so helpful and lovely to work with

Sometimes I get into a zone and go crazy making videos.  I just came out of a big streak where I uploaded four of them, all completely different from each other.  I wanted to make sure I had a patriotic card for 4th of July to send to the troops overseas, done.  I am consumed with making my “going to the dogs” series and finished the first of the dog toy videos.  I had to re-wet an alcohol marker so I thought I would do that on video as I’m not sure if every subscriber knows how to do that, and finally, I made the graduation card for our great nephew.  Geez, great nephew, that makes me seem so old.  If only I had some mental maturity to match my age.  Luckily, in my head, I’m pretty immature and that works for me.

So let me tell you a little bit about my videos.  The patriotic card was really a one sheet wonder, but I think it came out great.  I found a set of acrylics stamps on Ebay that were perfect for sending cards to the troops.  I used the sentiments from that set and then used a couple really cute stamps from Rubber Stamp Tapestry that made the card stand out and not just look like a single piece of cardstock.  I tried to make a card using Gelatos, but that did not go well, so I scrapped it.  I thought I could make a card using punched stars as masks and then put a stencil over it and Gelato through the stencil.  It did not go well, so another Gelato fail.  Darn it.  As for the graduation card, I’m sure there are tons of graduation cap cards on YouTube, but I wanted to make my own including a handmade tassel.  The tassel came out pretty well and would have been a lot easier to make if I had my bow jig but couldn’t find it.  Of course, as soon as the video was done, I found the bow jig and I’ll probably forget where it is when I need it the next time.  I can look right at something and still not see it.  Geez!  I’m really glad the graduation card is finished as I felt pretty bad that I hadn’t made it closer to his graduation.  He’s already left for college, so now I have to get his new address.  He may not get his card until Christmas at the rate I am going.

I have a lot more ideas for my dog series and think it’s perfect for summer.  Once I get a few of them online, I’ll start making old things new again.  I think that will be a great series and will help me stay on top of things I want to get done.

All in all, a great crafty day.

I have girlfriends that have very stressful jobs and need some sort of break from their routines, in my opinion.  I’ve been there and feel their pain.  I decided I’d like to do something for them.  I’m sure this is out there on YouTube somewhere, but I’ve never looked into it.  I’m going to make them their own small travel coloring book kit.  I’m going to make a folder that will house smaller coloring pages and have a pocket for their coloring medium.  I may buy them some Crayola markers or some good, inexpensive colored pencils for inside.  I’ve really started liking the Crayola markers as they are really juicy and inexpensive and have a ton of colors.  I may even do a tutorial on the project including coloring with whatever medium I choose.

The coloring craze was not in (by many years) when I was working, and I really wish it had been.  I needed something to break me out of my angst and stress, and allow me to shut my brain down for a few minutes.  So with as much love as I can muster, I’m doing what I can to help my friends to have a few moments of pure nothingness in their workday, because that’s what friends are for.

Summer is such a great time of year.  It allows us to go out and do all kinds of things that we in the northeast are not able to do for six months out of the year.  It’s a great time to do outdoor videos as well, and I’m going to take full advantage of the weather to do so.  I bought a wicker chair last year that’s old.  It doesn’t have a seat in it, but does have the reinforcement underneath in the form of an X.  As soon as I saw it, I envisioned using it for a large planter.  You plant some really great flowers inside a large urn and place the urn on the “X” and you have a really nifty piece of yard art.  I’m not really one for yard art, but I’ve started this project and so far, it looks really great.  I think it needs some moss on top but otherwise, it’s coming right along.  I haven’t put polyurethane on it yet, but I also haven’t exposed it to the elements either.  I’ve never done well with planters of any kind outside as we either have too much rain or not enough, and I never remember to water planters when they need it.  Such has been the case with this planter and I’ve already had three of my little plants die.  I need to make sure I do a better job of watering it, or it will be dead before I make the video.  I do really like the idea of the piece, so maybe I just need to buy a couple more plants and get serious about watering it.  I’m really great with perennials as they seem to survive no matter what, and wish that planters had the same longevity.  My mother bought me those glass bulbs that are supposed to keep watering the planter whenever it needs it.  I filled the bulb with water and shoved it into the dirt.  It never seemed to do anything but immediately drain into the soil.   It was a terrific idea, but ineffective for my needs.  It would be great if there was something that would continuously water this planter, but it’s not near a water source, and let’s face it, I’m probably not going to keep remembering to water it.  I better get serious about making the video or this is going to be one pathetic looking planter.

Our great nephew just graduated from high school and I’ve been thinking about the card I want to make for him.  I think the square 5 1/2″ card is perfect for turning it into a graduation cap and how easy would it be to make the tassel?  It should be really cute and I’m sure there are tons of YouTube videos where they use this as their idea, but I haven’t felt the need to look them up.  I think the only way I can make sure that mine is original, is to not use any references for it.

I realize I’m kind of late in making the card and putting it online, but maybe others have the same problem with procrastination.  One of the problems I had was that I didn’t know his school colors and wanted the graduation cap to mimic them.  Then I needed to buy some matching colored embroidery thread to make the tassel and I kept forgetting to do that.  And last but not least, he’s already left for college and I don’t have that address so even when I make it, I won’t know where to send it.  Have I made enough excuses?  Probably, but then I should have made it more of a priority and gotten it done and mailed before he left.  I’m ashamed of myself and need to apologize to him for my tardiness.

I make my own dog treats, decorate their dog collars and now am making them toys.  I thought it would be fun to show you the things I do for my dogs as well as share a small video of them including Aggie, our 14 year old, Bella, our 5 year old and Honey, our 7 month old golden retrievers.  Honey’s father is an English retriever which means he is white which is where she gets her coloring from.

To make the dehydrated vegetables or fruits, I recommend using a dehydrator with the motor in the top like the one I own made by Nesco by American Harvester .  I always set the thermometer at 135 degrees.  I use either sweet potatoes, acorn squash, pie pumpkins, apples and butternut squash.  It takes between 24-48 hours depending on the dehydrator that you use.  It’s easy to check to see if they are done because they turn very hard and look dry.  If the vegetables bend, they aren’t done.  Cut the vegetables about 1/4″ thick.  If you use apples, take out the seeds, but you can use the seeds in the other vegetables.  If you don’t have a full tray, you can mix vegetables.  You can also put cinnamon on apples for you to eat and they taste really good.  I hope you’ll give this a try.  I’m sure you can do the same thing in your oven.  I’d put it on a cookie rack above a tray so the produce is not sitting flat on the tray.  I’d still set the oven at the lowest setting 135 degrees if possible and keep an eye on it.  Probably not a good project for summer as it will take a very long time to dehydrate them.

Today was a pretty good garage sale day.  I found a lady that was selling jewelry  and had some lovely colored pearls still in their original packaging as well as some nice jewelry findings.  I haven’t found a bracelet that I like for my niece’s wedding and decided I will string a bracelet together with some of the beads and gems I’ve recently bought.

I made an executive decision as well.  I have to keep my craft room door closed at all times because Honey (our puppy) thinks it is the greatest place to find things to eat.  You name it, she can find it.  Bella’s cage is in there as well and I keep accidentally locking Bella in my room because she sneaks in for a little alone time, I don’t realize she’s there, and close the door.  In addition, I could really use the space that her cage takes up for some larger storage.  Her cage also makes it almost impossible to use the closet properly.  With all of these things in mind, I’ve decided I need to relocate her cage/crate, whatever you call it, to another room.  I’m not sure if it will work as the last time we used her crate on a long trip, she wouldn’t go inside, I’m not sure why.  So I’m hoping if I do move it, she won’t be freaked out and I really do need to move it.

I liked the scrap and punch card series but decided with summer and garage sale season in full swing, I’d like to do a couple of different new series.  I have already done one dog friendly video and have several more planned.  I’d like to make a series called “Going to the dogs.”  I thought I would focus on dog treats, dog toys and dog collars.  I used to customize dog collars years ago and forgot all about them until I opened a drawer and found an old one.  I’ll make sure to show that one when I do a video on collars. I have been making my dog treats for years and all dogs love them and they are fairly easy to make.  And finally, I was at a garage sale today and a lady was selling her homemade dog toys for charity.  Of course I had to buy one, and thought, what a great idea for a video.  When I meet people who are crafty at garage sales, I’ve been trying to get them to come on the channel with their projects, but so far I haven’t had any takers.  Darn.

The other series I’m going to do is based on buying things that are in bad shape and making them look new again.  I bought a bird feeder that’s in horrible shape but is really big and would feed a ton of birds.  It needs some serious tlc, but I think it will look great when it’s done.  I mentioned in another blog a bird house that needs remodeled, so that will be a video as well.  I found a free large framed print that I really liked that was in such bad shape, it was free.  I had to have it.  I really liked the print and think it will be terrific when it’s done.  My friend Lynn has a piece of yard art that she was going to sell in our upcoming garage sale, but it was too cute to sell.  She thought it was too faded and worn to keep using, but I volunteered to do a makeover and we are on our way.  I’m thinking of calling this series “Something old becomes something new again.”  If you have a different name, I’m open to ideas on both series.  I love it when I get ideas from you.

I am really excited about both series and think they will be a great diversion from the norm.  If I can do it, you can too.

Ok, so I hate to sound stupid, but when I’m on YouTube, I’ll have what I think is a message, but it actually says,  “Jane Doe has added you to her circle.”  Of course, Jane Doe isn’t a real name, but what does it mean?  Why does the internet have so many things on it with no explanation of why or what it’s for?  I’d like to know.  Why do we have to look to YouTube for someone to do a video explaining circles when the circle creators could just as easily explain it to us when we click on the person who wants to add us to their circle?  I know I’m out of touch when it comes to technology, but it’s really frustrating that these sites don’t feel any kind of explanation is necessary.  Here’s what I’d like to know–

1.  What is the purpose of circles?
2. What happens when you become part of one?
3. How do I look at the circles I’m in?
4. Why do I feel like YouTube would answer my questions?
5. Why am I fighting the need to go to YouTube to find my answers?

I guess number five is the problem.  I don’t want to have to go to a second website to understand the first one.  I guess I’m just stubborn, or old.  Probably both.

I made a video today showing how to make dog treats by dehydrating sweet potatoes and butternut squash. I thought it would be fun to make the video outside under our canopy.  The first video went well until I watched it and realized I cut off my head.  Not so good.  The next video was better, but I repeatedly called butternut squash, acorn.  I’m not sure what I was thinking.  I decided to stick with that take and would correct the mistakes in editing.  The main issue, I think, is my ego.  I’ve been taking prednisone, a steroid, to try to bring my arthritis under control.  The one side effect that really makes me crazy is what’s called a “moon face.”  That’s when your face is round, and I mean really round.  The bottom portion of your face really looks odd and I absolutely hate it.  I know that the medicine is helping me, but can’t stand to look at myself in a mirror, let alone watch myself on video.  I have to get past it because it’s who I am right now and I just have to let it go.  I wish I had taken a moment in the video to talk about my moon face and let people know it’s a fact of life when you are dealing with health issues like mine.  Maybe I’ll just put a note on the screen that explains it.  Sounds like I’m chickening out.  Possibly, probably. Ok, I’m a chicken. I tried to find the origin of “chickening out,” but the website wouldn’t allow me to copy and paste the information here.  Basically, chickens were considered scrawny, therefore it only makes sense that if you don’t want to fight, you were considered a chicken. There was a lot more information, but that’s the gist of it.  Cluck if you understand.